Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu continued, saying,

And Elius resumed and said,

2 “Do you think this is just when you say, 'My right before God'?

What is this that thou thinkest to be according to right? who art thou that thou hast said, I am righteous before the Lord?

3 For you ask, 'What use is it to me?' and, 'Would I be better off if I had sinned?'

I will answer thee, and thy three friends.

4 I will answer you, both you and your friends.

Look up to the sky and see; and consider the clouds, how high [they are] above thee.

5 Look up at the sky, and see it; see the sky, which is higher than you.

If thou hast sinned, what wilt thou do?

6 If you have sinned, what harm do you do to God? If your transgressions pile up high, what do you do to him?

and if too thou hast transgressed much, what canst thou perform?

7 If you are righteous, what can you give to him? What will he receive from your hand?

And suppose thou art righteous, what wilt thou give him? or what shall he receive of thy hand?

8 Your wickedness may hurt a man, as you are a man, and your righteousness might benefit another son of man.

Thy ungodliness [may affect] a man who is like to thee; or thy righteousness a son of man.

9 Because of many acts of oppression, people cry out; they call for help from the arms of mighty men.

They that are oppressed of a multitude will be ready to cry out; they will call for help because of the arm of many.

10 But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

But none said, Where is God that made me, who appoints the night-watches;

11 who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth, and who makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

who makes me to differ from the four-footed beasts of the earth, and from the birds of the sky?

12 There they cry out, but God gives no answer because of the pride of evil men.

There they shall cry, and none shall hearken, even because of the insolence of wicked men.

13 God will certainly not hear a foolish cry; the Almighty will pay no attention to it.

For the Lord desires not to look on error, for he is the Almighty One.

14 How much less will he answer you if you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him, and that you are waiting for him!

He beholds them that perform lawless deeds, and he will save me: and do thou plead before him, if thou canst praise him, as it is [possible] even now.

15 Now you say that his anger does not punish, and he does not take even a litte notice of transgression.

For he is not [now] regarding his wrath, nor has he noticed severely any trespass.

16 So Job opens his mouth only to speak foolishness; he piles up words without knowledge.”

Yet Job vainly opens his mouth, in ignorance he multiplies words.